US6152920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical method and apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1997-10-10
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Granted: 2000-11-28
•
Expires: 2017-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A surgical device including a relatively short shaft, a bendable spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force, and an operative element associated with the bendable spline assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell B. Thompson
- 👤 Edward J. Snyder
- 👤 Sidney D. Fleischman
- 👤 James G. Whayne
- 👤 Thomas R. Jenkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B18/1442; A61B18/1445; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00089; A61B2018/00101; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00136; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/0091; A61B2018/00916; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/1475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A surgical device, comprising: a relatively short malleable shaft defining a distal end and a proximal end; a bendable spline assembly connected to the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and an operative element associated with the bendable spline assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A surgical device, comprising: a relatively short malleable shaft defining a distal end and a proximal end; a bendable spline assembly connected to the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and an operative element associated with the bendable spline assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a substantially tubular member positioned around the shaft and slidable relative to the shaft; wherein the spline assembly is adapted to collapse in response to movement of the substantially tubular member thereover and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a retraction of the substantially tubular member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the substantially tubular member comprises a substantially cylindrical member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the substantially tubular member comprises a sheath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member is relatively stiff.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member is malleable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member is somewhat flexible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member defines a bending modulus between 3 lb.-in. 2 and 50 lb.-in. 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendable spline assembly includes a substantially annular portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative element comprises an electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative element comprises a plurality of electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative element comprises an energy emitting element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a handle associated with the proximal end of the shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft defines an overall length and the overall length is less than approximately 20 inches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft defines a bending modulus between 3 lb.-in. 2 and 50 lb.-in. 2 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendable spline assembly is in the form of a loop.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendable spline assembly comprises a spring member having a cross-section defining a length and a width, and the length is different than the width.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendable spline assembly comprises a spring member is in the form of a loop, the loop defining a plane and being adapted to bend in response to an in-plane force and resist bending in response to an equal out-of-plane force.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a steering element operably connected to the bendable spline assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
102 words
A surgical device, comprising: a relatively short shaft defining a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis; a bendable spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a substantially annular portion that lies in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced electrodes carried by the annular portion of the spline assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
A surgical device, comprising: a relatively short shaft defining a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis; a bendable spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a substantially annular portion that lies in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced electrodes carried by the annular portion of the spline assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
A surgical device, comprising: a relatively short shaft defining a distal end, a proximal end and an overall length less than approximately 20 inches; a substantially triangularly-shaped spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and a plurality of spaced electrodes carried by the bendable spline assembly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
86 words
A surgical device, comprising: a relatively short shaft defining a distal end, a proximal end and an overall length less than approximately 20 inches; a substantially triangularly-shaped spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and a plurality of spaced electrodes carried by the bendable spline assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the substantially triangularly-shaped spline assembly comprises a distal leg defining first and second ends, the distal leg being non-linear from the first end to the second end.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the distal leg comprises a first linear portion, a second linear portion and a non-linear portion therebetween.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first linear portion defines a first length, the second linear portion defines a second length, and the first length is equal to the second length.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
A surgical device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the substantially triangularly-shaped spline assembly comprises a distal leg, a first side leg and a second side leg, and at least one of the first and second side legs includes a guidewire.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-28 | 2004-05-29 | 2004-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-28 | 2008-05-29 | 2008-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-28 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |